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2/20/2014 11:49PM

Rare Korea Reunions a Last Chance to Reconnect

Elderly Koreans from each side of the border meet for the first–and possibly last–time since 1950s in the first reunion of families since 2010. The WSJ's Alastair Gale talks about the politics behind these rare meetings.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... the the ... North and South yes you haven't seen one another for over sixty years ... and ever con joining me now it is Alister gal sold beer chief ... Alastair ... that obviously an additional time off for these families to be re United after so many years ... on North Korea had Azam said he was going to do this type of reading and in the past ... but hasn't followed through why this time around ... it's right below this is cheating going on for many it's it's um it's ninety five these for years been taking place ... but what happened was that in two thousand ten themselves to London's rail stock room ... um um islands um ... yellow Sea that killed four people in South Korea ... still these reunions ... what's happened with its own boats ... between the boundary sauce and since ... last year there was agreement by September to do this that this counts but a last-minute bottle Korea ... in getting into this yet but it's all it's been talked about again ... so it doesn't open hence it is something that should be done for humanitarian reasons ... North Korea has been um ... I'm getting mixed signals about how God had with this for what happened was the last week ... they agreed ... to invest the proceeds of overseeing its first ... meeting of these ... families were divided by the Korean War ... Helmersson ex's full and removal ... of the most happening on its experience ... in the spring ... okay so I I you know obviously not reason I exactly unpredictable government action we take this as a positive sign a name ... aam and that North Korea have allowed to be used for unions to go for it ... when we reached ... with moves for individuals to read too much into this is interesting ... other North Korea has agreed to let the Sri it's happened ... the same time its merchant rules are about stop in South Korea ... between South Korean and US forces ... them to print strongly objects to these shows and is trying to think ... of them the unions ... to that rule was in discussions with the sound ... of ... over the last few months but the trend of objection now so ... it's interesting that North Korea seems to be given some ground almonds ... normally they don't do anything unless it's of some kind of payoff for the ... US and Soviet posters signed the heads of this happened ... despite objections to the drills ... and it seems that that that there's some kind of ... um ... warming of ties between the two Koreas ... but as we see in the house the second time around very quickly ... so you shouldn't read too much into it but it's an encouraging ... though there is letting this go ahead ... ok know why does have to wonder about the really the psychological Ott impact of these ... visits ... between family members who haven't seen each other in decades out one side of course it being a ... cop more fortunate in what they have the Opnet verse is at the North Koreans to ... you know have had our lives that that really don't compare ... I any any insight into from past visits ... whether or not to of of these visits actually help relations in the end ... you can say that they sold ... stakes state relations ... I mean to say this is um in a situation where you of ... Relativity awful and ... so the teams meet in the ... Goulburn falling and thus ... represents a bit of a risk to know that its use of ... the resource so that each of them the chance of a killing on the island ... one old lady whose focus groups ... um that's the sort of thing ... which ... brings up ... some um no the North Koreans widely believed to cast lead that they love to come to the street its ... lower house looking strange situations but no Koreans the teachings ... of the current some of the year of a staple down ... to the family members ... in the south side of ... the key to a degree but will the cabinet on Saturday ... so it knows it ... appears that taking the risk out of the situation have a destabilizing influence of these people ... returns were treated to The hse ... also in the south side of stuff from some families who bring up kids ... for the for the wall but none but people got the message to the north ... of the restrictions of all it can give them a talk to them and they have any real ... trade body ... so you know this is carefully stage managed by both sides actually do something ... to try and make them ... alleviate some of the boss of British